Every Pre-K 4 student is assigned a 7^th grade buddy.  Each morning the buddies sit with the Pre-K students to help them feel comfortable and secure in a large setting.  Buddies also sit with the Pre-K classes during our school Masses and are invited to play with the Pre-K during recess.  The Pre-K and the 7^th grade buddies gather during the year to work on various projects and celebrate the holidays together.  The Buddy Program fosters communication between grade levels and allows the older students to act as role models and mentors for the younger ones.

Cheerleaders:

The St. Pius X cheerleading squad is open to girls in 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th grades.  The cheerleaders promote school spirit, develop personal leadership skills, and support our school teams at various sporting events.

Choral Program:

All students in grades 4-7 are welcome to join the Choir.  Students learn the basic principles of singing while preparing fun music for our Christmas and Spring Programs.  The choir performs at school and at public events.  Being a member of the choral program gives a student the opportunity to create something beautiful in cooperation with his or her fellow students.

Duke University Talent Identification Program:

The Duke University Talent Identification Program is a program committed to identifying academically talented students and to providing innovative programs and services to support the development of their optimal educational potential.  Participation in this program offers students the opportunity to build their test-taking skills and learn more about their academic abilities.  St. Pius X participates in the 4^th and 7^th grade talent searches.

Field Day and Spirit Day:

Field Day and Spirit Day are held each spring.  The lower school has Field Day at St. Pius X and the Middle School has their event at Wally Pontiff Playground in Metairie.  There are approximately fifteen events at each location.  Ribbons are awarded to the individual winners.  Middle School also has team winners.  Spirit Day is held the afternoon before Field Day.

Guidance:

St. Pius X’s Guidance program offers guidance and support services to its school community.  Our counselor provides individual counseling for students with personal or academic concerns.  Students with serious personal or academic situations are referred for clinical intervention.  The counselor also meets with each class to conduct psycho-educational groups that concentrate on prevention.  Group topics include bullying, self-esteem, kindness, respect, and conflict resolution.

Helping Hands Club:

Seventh grade students lead the Helping Hands Club.  Dedicated to community service, the Helping Hands Club uses grant monies from the Joe Dorsey Brown Foundation to fund various service activities.  They host Christmas and Easter celebrations at Covenant House, cook and serve lunch at the Lakeview Shepherd Center, sort cans for Second Harvest Food Bank and additional projects during the school year.

Science Enrichment Club:

At Science Enrichment Club meetings, the students observe and participate in several demonstration labs to show how science affects us.  The Science Enrichment Club discusses the scientific method and how it can be used in all problems we face each day.  They hold a science fair where the students display a project or experiment that they have researched and created on their own.  The Science Enrichment Club, which meets weekly, is designed to foster a student’s love of learning by success and, as they will see in some demonstrations, by failure.

Scouts:

St. Pius X Catholic Church enjoys a more than fifty-year relationship as the chartering organization of both Cub Scout and Boy Scout units participating in the Boy Scouts of America.  In addition, the school and church sponsor vibrant troops in the Daisy, Brownie and Junior Girl Scout programs of the Girl Scouts of America.   Scouting has a long and active history among both the adults and youth in the St. Pius X parish community.

Spanish Club:

The purpose of the Spanish club is to expose our Middle School students to more of the Spanish language and culture outside of the classroom.  This is accomplished through listening and communication activities, videos, games, music, food, and group activities.  The Spanish Club has elected officials that implement and organize ideas for special activities or projects.  The students learn more about the countries, the people, and the customs.

Student Council:

Our Student Council offers middle school students the opportunity for school and community leadership.  In addition to providing opportunities to develop leadership skills, this organization also helps develop positive self- images, and teaches the importance of responsibility.  The Student Council leads the entire school in fundraising activities for charities; these students also organize school events, such as candy sales and sock hops